Chico’s Challenger Little League Chapter was started in 2002 by a local Chico real estate agent who heard about the Challenger program on ESPN. The Challenger division is a separate division set up to enable disabled boys and girls, ages 4 to18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school, to play the game. The season runs from April through June.
Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age. There are no practices, no one sits on the bench and everyone gets a turn at bat. Each hit is a home run.
No score is kept and games are kept to just two innings.
The Chico chapter is a free program. Financial donations from local corporations and businesses help to cover team expenses including equipment and end-of-season awards as well as safety gear and uniforms for all the players.
This year, the Chico Challenger chapter will make a trip to the special needs world series in Livermore with funding provided entirely by InterWest and the Good Guys – a Chico charitable organization dedicated to making youth sports affordable to everyone.
The Sports & Leisure Practice Group is honored to have the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of young athletes in the Chico area.
For more information on getting involved with the Challenger Division-challenger@LittleLeague.org
